• Ready, Derren

Abstract

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>UK asymptomatic contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases are not routinely tested for SARS-CoV-2. Testing contacts may improve case ascertainment and reduce onward transmission. This study investigated the acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 testing among contacts of confirmed cases as an integral part of the contact-tracing process.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>A cross-sectional descriptive survey of case contacts was conducted in the UK. All contacts who completed a telephone call with the NHS Test and Trace Agile Lighthouse team were eligible for inclusion and were offered a molecular test. Consenting participants were sent a self-swab kit.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Of the 1523 individuals contacted, 602 (39.5%) accepted the test offer. Of the 240 (39.9%) samples returned for testing, 16.3% tested polymerase chain reaction-positive for SARS-CoV-2.</jats:p><jats:p>Most individuals who declined with a reason (638/905; 70.5%) reported they had already taken or booked a SARS-CoV-2 test, or were part of a testing programme. Matched laboratory records confirmed 73.1% of those who declined were tested by another route.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Most case contacts were tested, either through arranging a test by themselves or by accepting the study offer. Results demonstrate high acceptability, with substantial test positivity, indicating that there is public health benefit in offering tests to contacts as a routine part of the contact-tracing process.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• inclusion
• size-exclusion chromatography